June 10, 2009

• I'm PMS-ing

  Here's my gripes from the past 30 days:

  My car has been at dealer repair for 36 days and counting.  The mechanics ordered parts, then found they needed another part, then found they needed another part.  The first part took 20 days to arrive, the second part 10 days, and the last part supposedly another 10 days.  Since is a powertrain warranty issue, the I was supplied with a free rental. 

  I took the rental and ok'd myself for supplemental insurance, then found out I didn't need to pay for supplemental property damage insurance since my regular auto insurance already covers that.  I was okay with paying for the number of days worth of charges that I had accumulated ($12/day).  I called Enterprise to stop the deductions going forward.  I asked the person if I needed to bring the car in for them to inspect, if there were any papers I needed to sign.  She said no, we were set, she removed the charge going forward.  I called this weekend to double check and the charge had not been removed.  The manager on duty said, "To get the removed, you have to bring the car in so that we can look at it and so that you can sign off on it, that you don't want the insurance anymore.  All of our agents know and our instructed to let you know that it has to be inspected and signed for."   After some debate, he agreed to remove the excess charges after examining the car.  I gave him the name of the employee that lied to me. 

  I was driving my dad's car during the first week of repairs and then the car had to get towed from my friend's house.  The car would start, but wouldn't shift gears, not even neutral, because the brake pedal or brake lights weren't registering.  I was freaked because it was a Mercedes and I was afraid that the electrical damage would cost hundreds.  I do some research in online forums and some guys suggest changing out a $25 "brake light switch" plug under the steering wheel.  Since it's probably the cheapest Mercedes part ever made, I figure it's worth a try.  It takes me less than 10 minutes to unscrew panel, pull old plug, and put in new plug.  The fix works and probably saves me at least $200 in dealership repairs.  Minor crisis, but everything worked out. 

  I open my Verizon Wireless bill and find that last month some agent has bundled a text messaging package onto my phone bill.  I call customer service and they say they can't remove or refund the charge because it wasn't put on by them.   It was done in a store.  I'm pissed that some sales person probably bundled more onto my account without my consent.  I haven't been in a store or called a rep for 8-12 months.  They tell me I have to go into a store to get the charges reversed, they don't have the authority.  I say, "You tell me you can't back out the charges, I can't speak to your supervisor, you can't tell what store or rep made the change on my account, and then you want me to wait 30 minutes after work in a line because I have a $10 charge that I didn't authorize?  That $10 is not worth my 30 minutes.  It's not the money, it's the principle that someone upsold my account without my authorization." 

  The biggest pisser of all belongs to tickets I sold for $480 to Lakers vs. Rockets, Game 7.  They were e-tickets, so I sent the buyer etickets and physical tickets.  Physical tickets so that there was physical tracking.  AFTER the game, the person files a dispute case saying they never got the tickets.  For the 4 days leading up to the game, they didn't complain or contact me about not receiving them.  I do research and find out this person bought 13 pairs of tickets to that game in hopes of flipping for a profit.  They also bought many "how to sell and make money on ebay books and dvds."  They file a case against me because my tickets were the highest priced item they bought.  Claim is ruled in my favor.  The person appeals and Paypal decides to rule in their favor this time.  They used or sold the tickets, then they are awarded a refund because they claimed non receipt, then appealed under "item not as described."   What is there not to describe?  You got exact tickets for the exact seats as stated. 

  I'm pissed that in all of my cases this year, Paypal hasn't protected the seller.  They've ruled in the buyer's favor even when I follow all seller protection procedures, where the buyer is either a cheat or a fraud.  Ebay and Paypal offer less seller protection than before.  It's disappointing because honest sellers are the people that make Ebay and Paypal their money.  People like me pay hundreds or thousands and thousands in fees every year to Ebay & Paypal.  The sellers I contacted were very concerned, as these issues are serious enough where it could change the way they do business.  Some of them due huge volume on Ebay, like hundreds of thousands in gross sales.   

  I contacted other sellers whom had sold Game 7 tickets to this person asking if any of them had a case open against them.  None had.  After my case ended, one of the sellers replied, saying the person just opened a case against them.  I said, "I'm sorry man, Paypal couldn't see that this person was a cheat, they let them win against me, and since that worked, now they are trying to fraud more money back to themselves.  You're the next victim.  Good luck and let me know what happens with the case." 

  Other things... I pulled a back muscle (it's a little hard to get out of bed) and my ankle ligaments have been acting up.  I have no idea how I aggravated them.  I don't know what bathwater I've been drinking this month, but it's dirty.  None of this really affects my life in a major way, but it's all very annoying.  Please tell me you've had worse this month so that I can feel better.  Misery would welcome your company.  

  • 6:22 pm
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